Home » A Fitting Requiem For Mauricio Pochettino

A Fitting Requiem For Mauricio Pochettino

By The Boy -
My thanks to Jamie Seymour

With the amazon documentary on Tottenham Hotspur being released this week, the final closure on the Pochettino reign at Spurs should finally come. As well as being a hugely likeable character, Pochettino built a team that connected with its fanbase and helped the club enjoy a significantly increased stature both domestically and internationally within the game. Thanks to this, you can rest assured that Pochettino will always be offered a warm welcome at Tottenham.

League Performance – 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 

There can be little argument that Tottenham performed consistently well in the league under Pochettino. During his first three seasons in charge the team’s progress was obvious as they established themselves as title contenders and memorably went unbeaten at home throughout their final season at White Hart Lane. The team itself was built on high fitness levels, intense physicality and technical quality that combined to produce some thrilling performances. A 2-0 win over Antonio Conte’s Chelsea champions to be proving one of the many highlights.

Since his 3rd season, Pochettino’s challenge has gradually altered with the building of the new stadium becoming the biggest priority at the club. With little investment in the side Tottenham continued to overachieve in the league by securing back to back Champions League finishes but the decline in the team’s level became increasingly apparent as their points tally’s demonstrate (86/77/ 71/59). It was this decline in league form over a three-year period that ultimately led to Pochettino losing his job early in the 2019/20 season but the debate on who is to blame for this decline is another article in itself. 

European Performance

Champions League

2017/18 – Round of 16 – Juventus – 3-4

2018/19 – Final – Liverpool – 0-2

Europa League

2014/15 – Round of 32 – Fiorentina – 1-3

2015/16 – Round of 16 – Borussia Dortmund – 1-5

2016/17 – Round of 32 – KAA Gent – 2-3

Tottenham have enjoyed some magical European nights under Pochettino both at White Hart Lane and Wembley, perhaps the only time the National Stadium really felt like home. Beating Real Madrid 3-1 there was one of the highlights of Pochettino’s reign but other heavyweight European giants including Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City were also dispatched.

Tottenham’s progress on the European stage culminated in a trip to the final, a fantastic achievement but that come from behind victory against Ajax was probably where Pochettino’s time at the club reached its climax. 

Losing to Liverpool in the final was disappointing, particularly given the nature of the game but that ultimately reflected the fact that after going behind early, Tottenham did not have the quality to break down one of the best sides in Europe. No shame in that. 

Pochettino was, in my view, unfairly blamed for selecting Harry Kane ahead of Lucas Moura for that match on the basis that Moura had led the line successfully in the semi-final in which he scored a hat-trick. Applying any scrutiny to that criticism sees it fall apart somewhat as revisiting the semi-final fixtures shows that in Kane’s absence Tottenham managed just one shot on target in the first leg which they lost 1-0 at home in a toothless attacking display. 

The second leg was where Lucas Moura produced his heroics but even the laziest analyst could recognize that the result of Moura leading the line on his own was a 2-0 defeat in the first forty-five minutes. It was only when Fernando Llorente was brought on at half time and Spurs resorted to route one football that Moura was able to come up with a telling contribution. The only real criticism of Tottenham’s performance in Europe was the defeat to Gent in his third season when his side were at their best. It was one of their best chances to win a trophy missed and that was a theme that continued in the domestic cups.

FA Cup

2014/15 – 4th Round – Leicester – 1-2

2015/16 – 5th Round – Crystal Palace – 0-1

2016/17 – Semi-Final – Chelsea – 2-4

2017/18 – Semi-Final – Manchester United – 1-2

2018/19 – 4th Round – Crystal Palace – 0-2

League Cup

2014/15 – Final – Chelsea – 0-2

2015/16 – 3rd Round – Arsenal – 1-2

2016/17 – 4th Round – Liverpool – 1-2

2017/18 – 4th Round – West Ham – 2-3

2018/19 – Semi-Final – Chelsea – Lost on Penalties

2019/20 – 3rd Round – Colchester – Lost on Penalties

Pochettino was always open in admitting that the Champions League and Premier League were the priority for Tottenham but his record in the domestic cups is underwhelming. The trip to the League Cup Final in his first season highlighted the positive impact he was having at the club but that was as good as it got with the defeats to West ham after leading 2-0 and Colchester in his final season particular low points. 

The FA Cup also offered some low key early exits but the biggest disappointments came in the semi-final defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United. It is no disgrace to lose to either of these sides but here was where I felt Pochettino made his biggest mistakes. He chose to leave Kyle Walker out of the clash with Chelsea, playing Son at wingback for the one and only time (I think) during his reign. A move which backfired. 

The following year Spurs were in the semi-final again and again Pochettino made some big decisions, leaving Alderweireld, their best defender and Hugo Lloris, their club captain out of the fixture. Again, a look back at the second Manchester United goal suggests that this was a mistake. It was these decisions that ultimately meant that Tottenham finished five terrific seasons without silverware to show for it.

The End

The scenes at the end of the Champions League Semi-final were probably the beginning of the end for Pochettino. His team were no longer at their best and his comments around leaving the club suggested he had doubts over being present for the necessary rebuild. The team failed to implement his change in system at the start of the new season and while he had probably done enough to deserve being given the rest of the campaign to turn things around his comments since leaving suggest it may have been the right time for him to go.

So what is Pochettino’s legacy? As any opposing fans often remind Spurs supporters he won no trophies but there is little doubt that his team consistently overachieved. At a club which delights in the game being ‘about the glory’ there are plenty of performances that fit the bill. Pochettino gave everything he had to Tottenham during his time there and that was reflected in the relationships he built with the players and supporters. He was not a perfect manager, in reality none of them are, but he certainly sprinkled a little magic around this proud North London club. 

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East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

How’s the weekly brainwashing sessions going down at Lilywhite House for you? Rather well, obviously! 😂

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

When has he ever spent (HIS) money here? I got me nut round him never spending his own money with Tottenham ages ago. Its his choice and he chooses not to. Nothing can be done about that (unless he changes his mind) he ain’t gonna. His personal wealth is irrelevant to Tottenham, we’re on our own out here and we’re doing OK now. About to CONQUER.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

So not one player in 12 months was achievable for an owner worth 6bn? 😂

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

How the hell do you expect Tottenham to have that kinda money when Joe&levy are nicking it all? Its a Forbes ting😂🌚

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  England Mike

As I’ve already pointed out, Klopp also ‘failed’ first time around. Finished 2nd in the league and lost in the C.L final. The only difference is that he was able to come back with a stronger squad with the right additions (about 300m worth) and try again.

Poch wasn’t given this opportunity or the resources to go again. History will tell you, this is how you win stuff.

This isn’t all about Poch, this is more about our owners and how much they put into trying to win the big prizes. Nothing is the answer, so how anyone can say with any conviction that it’s got nothing to do with Levy is totally beyond me…

England Mike
England Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

I don’t think anybody is underestimating or ignoring what Poch did for this club, he did a fine job, however does it not also say the same about those who prefer not to see the error of Poch’s ways ? We were good enough to reach 2nd in the PL, good enough to reach the CL final and a League Cup Final , blew finishing 2nd in the PL the previous year, and blew the semi-finals of the FA Cup. How does a team consistently reach these levels over a period of seasons only to fail in the crucial moments that matter, the one off games. This points directly to the manager and his team selection, his tactics and motivational skills, and as much as I would like to agree with you , I don’t see how that has anything to do with blaming Levy. It really is time to move on , the club and players have, some fans like yourself need to also, it’s gone .

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

The overachieving cup.(for losers) I must’ve missed it. I hope we broke out the open top bus🌚

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Mental health is a very serious issue, as is addiction and I’ve lost people to it as many of us probably have.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

I ain’t had to call them up for a while. I’m doing very well. Balanced. I don’t try to keep it a secret anymore my “bi po”. Bigup Steven fry. I’ve had some great helpful chats with him on the heath.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  England Mike

No signings for a year and 17th net spend and 7th wage bill, not backing the manager have nothing to do with it then?

Klopp got to the final and lost, and finished 2nd in the league. The Liverpool owners then fixed it for him and they went back and won both the following year.

You want trophies you back the manager, you don’t get close one season, not back him and then blame him for being the root cause.

It’s both shameful and idiotic, and I feel sorry for people that ignore this most glaring of facts when summing up Poch’s time with us. Probably because it doesn’t suit them to..

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

Does anyone remember who wins the League Cup these days, really? Who won it the last three years? I couldn’t tell you, or Ropey for that matter. Nobody remembers those mate.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

A wooden spoon is a less shiny prize you get when you can’t win the one that really matters, it doesn’t mean bottom at all.

It’s the perfect description, certainly for the League Cup and I would say the Ropey too…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

We bounced back when Jose took over but then as he got his feet under the table we slumped back down to ninth. What sort of manager goes on a run to be 4 points off 4th and then go on a slump that undoes all that and you finish 7th?

Jose is no mug and he needs some time but I’m not getting on board with the idea that we are now at our ‘level’ trying to win domestic cups and Ropey. That’s what Arsenal have became, 10-12 years after moving to their new ground too. And yes, they’ve got terrible owners like we have, that does not make it alright by the way.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

No wonder you have that number memorised…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

You obviously don’t agree with the guest blog at the top here then after all, ‘Poch loser, Jose winner blah blah.

It’s you lot that are like parrots…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

The point I’m making is, if you appear in CL finals you are a team at the top of their game. Domestic trophies are then inevitable.

Treating domestic cups as the pinnacle is what average teams did 40 odd years ago. Always aim higher, and we did, and we were there at least, in with a Chance for the first time EVER in our history. Have I think about that, even the great Bill Nic never got us to that level consistently.

Anyway, I’m using the whole episode to demonstrate what terrible owners we really have. But hey, at least we won’t ‘do a Leeds’ will we…

Steve KillerCushion Williams
Steve KillerCushion Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

You’ve missed my point and gone off in another direction… Of course I would rather we were in the CL over the ropey. Maybe if we got rid of poch pre season then we would be in it still.. Jose dragged us from 14th back into contention for top four… And even though he came mid season, in the period he’s been here he has been top four with us.

Steve KillerCushion Williams
Steve KillerCushion Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

You didn’t answer his question. Not a chance to win it… A final defeat……. I would take a league cup win or an fa cup win over any defeat….. Noone remembers the losers.

Steve KillerCushion Williams
Steve KillerCushion Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

It is (as H once described) like forgetting that beautiful ex. 😂 It was a good ride while it lasted, but something always felt a little bit off.. It didnt work out, never mind… Goodbye, good luck, its ‘been’ emotional… Time to move on and continue with life…. No point in crying for months.

Steve KillerCushion Williams
Steve KillerCushion Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Wooden spoon is bottom. This isn’t happening anytime soon… Your right it was all criminal but years ago now! You’re like a parrot mate… Poch had Ndombelly and a couple more that were apparently his picks. After nearly 6 years of silly decisions and winning nothing he was given months in his final season and we were 14th. The football was shocking. Poch was a one trick pony. Other managers and clubs sussed him out.. Maureen has many tricks and styles…. Winning anything right now would be a step forward… Striker, left back and a quality centre mid needed…. After signing doherty for so cheap I have a bit of hope… Great signing… More like that and we’re on the right track.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

0300 1234 244. Crisis team.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Only got us into the C.L for one season in 4. Poch did it 4 out of five.

I liked the football under Arry and he restored some pride but not a patch on Poch, he took it to the next level. Sorry to disappoint you…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

There is no way that scenario would occur. It’s like me asking you if you’d like to go to Mars or Pluto on holiday.

But to amuse your pea brain I’ll entertain your ridiculously childish question and say FIVE FA Cup wins would/might be preferable to 5 C.L Final defeats.

But look at it this way (if you can get your head around it) if we were appearing in 5 C.L finals we would be a club like Barca, Real Madrid and would be cleaning up domestically too, like they do.

So the very notion that we’d get to 5 C.L finals and not win the league or some other cups along the way, is the kind of thing only dreamt up by someone quite stupid… 😂

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Yes or no? To the question I asked you.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

No, I’d prefer 1 C.L win over 5 FA cups yes. We’ve never won it before either, but we came closest with Poch, innit..

5 FA Cups? 😂

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

So wait. Your rather no CL cups than five FA cups?

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Got to be in it to win it when you’re aiming from the top. Aim a bit lower and you might just win something? What the f**ck is that all about? 😂

Secondly, it’s overwhelming more likely that you’d win one of those 5 C.L finals than all 5 F.A Cups….

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

So by your thinking you’d rather 5 CL final defeats than 5 FA cups?

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

‘Financials aside’, you seem to put financials aside when judging Poch’s record too which then makes any judgement without any credibility. Let’s not complicate things though eh?

Back to your question; an FA Cup win is significantly below a C.L Final appearance. Because if you look at the number of C.L finals the most successful FA Cup clubs have got to in comparison with FA Cup finals the evidence is overwhelming.

Getting to an F.A Cup final and winning it is probably on average 6-7 times easier than getting to a C.L final.

So yes, I’d take another crack at winning the big stuff over wooden spoons, all day long. It’s far more PRESTIGIOUS, which is what winning cups is also about too after all.

As for the League Cup, i’ll stop here, before I p**s myself with laughter! 😂

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

I have moved on, ENIC haven’t, they’re still there.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

I’d have found a way to start both in the final, like you say.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Arry. 4 years. 1/4 final CL. No cups
Poch. 5.5 years. CL final. No cups. Arry won no cups in less time.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Financials aside would you chose a CL final defeat over a domestic cup?

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Only the obsessed care about any of that now. Most have said their thank yous and moved on.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Yup.

If Jose gets top four at the same time then it’s different.

Woolwich even won the FA Cup this season ffs and they are not a particularly good side at the moment.

I mean it 109%. What’s this obsession with these devalued cups over the Champions League and League placing? It’s not the 1980’s anymore, they are nice to win but ffs, people needs to get a grip…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Arry was good, not a patch on Poch though…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Panama Paul

Levy never backed him either in the end. We really needed Ryan Nelson… 😂

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

What’s the point in being in the most prestigious club competition in the world every season? What a terrible idea.

I know, let’s dine at Burger King instead of the Wolseley that way we get to stuff our faces on a Bargain Bucket rather than savour some fine cuisine.

Levy’s old 2 for one special, cheap n nasty, luvlee jubblee….

Aspiration to greater things? Why would we want that for Spurs?

Better to be a big fish in a small pond now is it? I give up, I thought we were going places and there’s people happy not to… 😂

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Harry Hotspur

Come back to me at the end of Jose’s tenure and we’ll compare then. If he even gets five seasons…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Umm… no I’m not. Pretty sure about that, because I’m not one of Levy’s zombie army of mugs…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

If the dull football wins big stuff then great, if it just wins wooden spoons so what?

We were at the top table of world football under Pochettino, beating Real Madrid, knocking out moneybags Citeh while playing in a style that was at one point the envy of the whole league.

Of course winning the Ropey would be welcome because we just aren’t in the Champions League anymore.

You talk about the confidence it would bring, but more confidence than getting to a Champions League final, beating Real Madrid, locking horns with the world’s best week in week out?

I’m afraid we were in the ascendancy, even with no home ground to play in at for over a year. It’s criminal that we went on to sign nobody for 12 months when the team were in that position and playing at that level. What sort of owners don’t back the manager at that point? Who are these people, what are they playing at?

Absolutely criminal that Levy wouldn’t bring in players of the quality the manager wanted to improve and strengthen the squad. Just so he could keep his net spend at 17th and his wage bill running about 300m a year under teams like Utd and over 150m a year even under flipping Arsenal ffs?!

The reason why I use the word ‘mugs’ is because there is a section of our support that still believe that ENIC are actually doing everything they can to bring success on the pitch.

That all the failings are always down to managers and players, when if you analyse the facts, their is a DIRECT correlation between what you spend on the squad and what you win. There is NO evidence to the contrary, not anywhere in the world.

Liverpool are a perfect case in point. I was there when we beat them 4-1 at ‘home’ at Wembley. Liverpoo’s ownersl went on to give Klopp about 300m to bring in everything he needed. We bought Aurier and then Moura and went on to sign nobody for a whole year after that. Poch got nothing, zilch after getting the team to where they were on such a paltry budget. Why would you not do that? What kind of owner doesn’t do that? Ask yourself.

This isn’t even about Poch, it’s about the wilful neglect and actual vandalism Levy and ENIC inflict on every good team and management structure that ever develops at the club. They did it to Hoddle, Jol, Ramos, Arry, AVB (sort of? And eventually Poch despite his incredible levels of over achieving.

That’s why I find the notion that winning the Ropey is some kind of sign of progress utterly tedious and hopelessly defeatist as a concept. Of course I’ll be happy if we won it and yes we could do with a trophy but just any trophy to me is winding back the clock.

Right back to 2008 when we won the League Cup. What did it lead to? Regression and Levy selling off of the team’s best players. He’s got Kane lined up for an exit which is why he wants a wooden spoon so Kane can at least say he won something with us and the mugs can pretend it’s 2008 again…

#ENIC OUT

Harry Hotspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Thank goodness your cell is padded 🤣

England Mike
England Mike
3 years ago

It’s a fair and reasonable assessment of the Poch era, but the inescapable fact for me, is that his team over any of those seasons, should have lifted a trophy, any trophy as the record shows. Said it before but, in the crucial games that mattered It was not good enough, and I see it as a wasted opportunity and he, probably even now, has failed to realise the chances he had.

BobbytheBrain
BobbytheBrain
3 years ago

Well said sir

Steve KillerCushion Williams
Steve KillerCushion Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

A final means nothing if you dont win. Whats the point of top four if it enters you into an even tougher cup that you never win…….. I would rather win any cup than finish second elsewhere…. Its about being the best. Not fourth best and finalists…….. Winning is everything at the end of the day.. Everyone remembers the winners. Not second best, not fourth best. There is no glory in second… And wooden spoon is awarded to the last team at the bottom for your knowledge. This certainly won’t be happening anytime soon!

Steve KillerCushion Williams
Steve KillerCushion Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Aye that was a nice analysis.. All apart from Lucas Moura, he deserved to start that match. I remember I would have started Kane too, but found a place for Moura too.. He was the hero who got us there…. There is nothing wrong with winning europa league. An European title, money and entry to the CL. Plus the mentality, confidence, experience and momentum that winning brings and breeds … Mugs want ‘pretty football’, a few of deles flicks and tricks and finish 5th, or 14th winning nothing.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

You’re laughing at yourself.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

What!?

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Panama Paul

Raincoat man thought that

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

At last, a sensible, realistic and factual appraisal Pochettino’s tenure with us.

All the mugs can now be quiet, and go back to dreaming of winning the Ropey, defensively… 😂

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

If Jose wins the Ropey or a domestic cup or both, it still won’t equal the overachieving under Poch. Like I say, consistently top 4 and a Champions League final and then Jose can go on from there…

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago

Good read, well done. The most important thing about Poch’s reign for me was that we were taken seriously again as a football club by our own fans and the supporters of other clubs. He gave us back our self respect and that should not be underestimated.

pommie
pommie
3 years ago
Reply to  Panama Paul

I agree. He certainly helped bring us enjoyment most of the time, but also despair from being good but not good enough to take the last step.

ENIC had his balls and their own wallet in a vice. Imagine if they had spunked some cash on players for Poch to mix the squad up a bit in Jan during the 18/19 season. We sold Mousa instead and then lost to Burnley in Feb. Winning would have put us 3pts behind first but instead we were shit from then on. Buying some players in Jan might have provided some quality/impetus to push on. Instead we’re still waiting for a trophy and wondering what might have happened if we supported Poch and actually bought someone and bought them early in a transfer window, paid the extra few mill to get players like Bruno Fernandes and Grealish.

By the end the players were stale from his high intensity training and fitness, which I believe led to the amount of injuries we had, but also we had no creativity going forwards and weren’t getting the results. Teams sat back, waited for us to run out of ideas because there was no movement upfront and hit us on the counter attack.

Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. We didn’t spend, the team went shit and now we’re in Europa. Just remember, when Poch was sacked we were 3pts off 5th. We finished 3pts off 5th.

Jose knows how to win trophies so maybe we’re in a better position now and Levy knows that being cheap can cost him and us.

Panama Paul
Panama Paul
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Perfect candidate to lead FIFA. Keep it old school. Paper bags are hard to trace.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Panama Paul

🌚 that’s why international football woulda been perfect for him.

Panama Paul
Panama Paul
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Exactly, just like transfers. Why wire money to a bank account when you can use a brown paper bag.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Panama Paul

Arry kept it like the game is, simple.

Panama Paul
Panama Paul
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

I have my reservations about the ‘run abaht a bit’ being successful at international level.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Panama Paul

He deserved the England job. Loved his Tottenham work.

Panama Paul
Panama Paul
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

‘Arry was the man for the hour. Then he got delusions of grandeur and muffed it.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago

Just secured £64k funding from national health England for Haringey recovery services🌚🌚 “inspirit” big up yourself Linda. And the Wonderful Sarah hart at Haringey council

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  James McKevitt

Arrys “Inter at the lane. The football world said “$h!t! Spurs are back

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago

I think arry deserves a lot praise. He got us spursing again. We were a mess when he first came in. Poch walked into Tottenham when we weren’t in such a bad way. Them two make up half of levys time here. No cups but the football was good. Anyway. Time for cups. José, do your ting.

Panama Paul
Panama Paul
3 years ago

I’m glad someone has addressed the elephant in the room.

Panama Paul
Panama Paul
3 years ago

It would be churlish and ungrateful not to acknowledge the contribution Poch made to this club, given that he was hamstrung by ENIC during his tenure. Poch was both an over and under achiever. Over-achieved by defying our love affair with net spend to punch above our weight and place higher in the league than we ought to have. Under-achieved because the tarnish to his efforts was the lack of tangible success. The trophy cabinet was the same when he left as it was when he arrived (pre-season tourneys excepted). Essentially, the ‘project’ collapsed under the weight of its own philosophy – with player burn-out and an awakening to the ‘Jam Tomorrow’ mantra of ENIC. Ultimately, he was found out and couldn’t produce another rabbit out of the hat even though he was ‘magic’ you know. He also tended to ‘choke’ in the big moments and the rest as they say is history. Probably stayed on one year too long in reality, ending his Spurs reign in a downward trajectory. So long, Poch. Thanks for the memories (which for me, with my memory, won’t last long).

Eddie
Eddie
3 years ago

Very good analysis.Thanks.

PlayItAgainSamways
PlayItAgainSamways
3 years ago

Good stuff.

I dont think we need mention Poch again. Spurs haved moved on.

James McKevitt
James McKevitt
3 years ago

I’d say Poch made Spurs relevant again. Other teams had to take us seriously, no more of Alex Ferguson’s “, Lads it’s Tottenham”. We made a big impact domestically and in Europe. He restored our pride in the team and gave us some great days.

As someone who has seen Spurs relegated and finish 19th in the League and be irrelevant for much of the the 1990s and 2000s I’ll take that and thank him for his efforts. Time to move on now and get our hands on the silverware.

SpursGoliath
SpursGoliath
3 years ago

Well said

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